INTRODUCTION

Welcome to the beautiful and sublime world of Japanese Rope Bondage. This informational booklet is provided to help you and your partner explore the art and pleasure of this exotic and unique craft. Enjoy your bondage experience, and be sure to observe the safety guidelines described herein. Safe play is satisfying play!

ROPE VARIETIES: CHOSING THE RIGHT ROPE

ROPE is, perhaps, the ultimate bondage tool. It is highly versatile, and many people find it very aesthetically pleasing. Indeed, it is hard to deny the strange beauty of intricate lacing and knot-work pressed against human skin. But before you truss up you partner, you must choose the best rope for you! HEMP is an organic material yielded from the cannabis plantthe same plant that produces marijuana. Hemp is valued for its strength and versatility. Hemp rope tends to be expensive, and is the traditional rope of the kinbakushi, or "bondage master", because it is strong, doesnt stretch, and can be rough and gentle at the same timeproperties that are central to bondage play ideals. The key here, however, is that regular hemp ropes are difficult to use properly, and thus should only be used by experts! Experts know all about knots, sensitive points of the body, and have a clear understanding of the

physiological limitations of their submissives or "subs". But if you are a beginner, do not be discouraged: There are some great alternatives to hemp rope that are just as fun and every bit as sensual! A SOFT ROPE is the best rope to use. In particular, Japanese Silk Love Rope represents the highest quality among the soft rope varieties. Now, Japanese Hemp Love Rope is also available, to more closely simulate the benefits of a hemp rope. Why use Japanese Silk Love Rope or Japanese Hemp Love Rope? The answer is simple: Japanese Silk Love Rope is processed through several proprietary chemical baths to soften it, yet maintain its strength and integrity. These soft, silky ropes are tensile tested to verify their strength and softness. The reason that Japanese Silk Love Rope is so thoroughly tested is that when you soften a rope, you can alter mechanical properties such as yield strength and tensile strength. Thus, great care is taken to ensure that your Japanese Silk Love Rope meets all ASTM standards, while still affording you the pleasure and luxury of a silky-soft touch.

OTHER BONDAGE MATERIALS

For the novice, nearly any material can be used to restrain your partner! For example: a mans tie, pantyhose, handkerchiefs, belts, or a scarf (if the garment is made of silk, leave at least 10" tails after knotting, as release is not easy with silk). TAPE can be used, but is potentially very painful to remove from hairy parts of the body. If you do use tape, protect the skin with either sheets or clothing, placing the tape on the outside of the fabric. Applying skin lotion between the skin and the fabric is also a good idea. There is special bondage tape on the market that will not pull hair or skin upon removal. Regardless of how you use tape, be aware that a persons body temperature increases drastically with this kind of play, as the skin and pores get sealed. If you do use this technique, use clothing sparingly, keep safety scissors handy (same goes for rope play), and always pay attention to how your subject is feeling.

HANDCUFFS are another fun tool to use. They are very kinky! Most are opened with a key, but now there are some that have a keyless, quickrelease mechanism. Please be very careful to use quality handcuffs. Be sure that the locking mechanism has a strong sliding lever, and doesnt have a cheap, flimsy feel. A poorly made, "junky" set of cuffs will not always open when needed. Cost can help you gauge the quality of the device. While you need not spend a fortune on cuffs, you should realize that extremely cheap cuffs will not perform well. Never use handcuffs with cloverleaf keys, as they often have a double lock mechanism that can jam easily. Leather cuffs are the best! They are comfortable and easy to wear for long periods of time, but can also be quite costly. They perform extremely well, and will last you a lifetime with proper use and maintenance. Fur cuffs are often cheaply made and should be fully inspected before usage. No matter what kind of handcuff you chose, always avoid cheap cuffs with poor locking mechanisms.

ASYMMETRIC BONDAGE
Your body is a symmetric entity, and it is natural to be tied up in a symmetric mannerThat is, tying two wrists, two arms, or two legs. The mind and body have a lot more problems adjusting to anything that is non-symmetric or "asymmetrical". When you use asymmetric techniques to tie up a person, they will experience a loss of coordination and physical control that will make the impact of being tied up much more intense. For example: If you tie a persons right wrist to their left foot, and vice versa, the mind is tricked and the subject loses control of their right and left coordination. To properly control right and left motor functions, the person tied up will have to totally concentrate on which body part belongs to their right, and which belongs to their left. This is so difficult that you wont even need a blindfold to enhance their feeling of helplessness, because in this situation, even crawling is extremely difficult. Another way to toy with the equilibrium of your partner is to tie one end of a rope around their waist, and the other end to either foot in such a way that the subject can only partially stretch their leg. Being

able to stretch and move one leg and not the other is a terribly disconcerting and frustrating! Asymmetric bondage turns your subjects equilibrium into a function of your creativity and provides the greatest means for teasing your bondage subject!

BASIC ROPE TECHNIQUES

There is no single "correct" way to tie someone up. You should use you imagination and explore. But just to get you started, here are some ideas: 1. Rope is best suited for tying multiple limbs (rather than just one). Center the rope over two limbs and wrap both ends repeatedly around both limbs. Never wrap too tightly! Stop at a central point between two limbs and twist the ends against each otherlike turning a corner at an intersection. Make a simple cinch and tie a square knot.

2. Wrap rope evenly so that you can distribute pressure evenly. This is extremely important for the comfort and safety of your partner! 3. Be sure to cinch so that you are free to experiment with many different kinds of knots. 4. Typical styles that you may enjoy using are: (a) Wrists Crossed (b) Wrist to Wrist/Palm to Palm (c) Chinese WristsWrapping the wrists behind the back with parallel forearms and elbows at right angles. (d) Parallel Ankles (e) Crossed LegsFor a feminine look. (f) Roped CalvesThis enables the knees to be forced apart. (g) Double-Rope BondageExactly as it sounds. (h) Doubling the Rope at the CenterA comfortable, yet binding form of bondage.

BONDAGE SAFETY
While varying degrees of discomfort are often part of the fun of bondage play, long-term damage is NOT! The idea is to exert control over a submissive, not to permanently injure them. Most bondage injuries are not with beginners, but rather with experienced players who get too ambitious and do risky things. Dont let this be you! For a safe, good time, you MUST adhere to the following safety guidelines: A. DONTS 1. Dont play when you are tired or under the influence of alcohol or drugs. 2. Dont play if you are not 100% alert and communicative. 3. Dont try positions or knots that youre not 100% sure are safe. 4. Never leave a person in bondage alone. 5. Never apply pressure of any kind to the neck in the throat area. 6. Never play with someone who you do not 100% know and trust.

B. CIRCULATION Poor circulation can occur by poor, uneven wrappingThat is, poor bondage. Everyone has had the experience of a foot falling asleep and it doesnt feel good! Listen to your subject, for only they know if a nerve is being pinched or if there is any pain. Do whatever your subject says when it comes to their safety and comfort. They have the final word and their decision must be law. Always be alert to your subjects reactions. No matter what position you place your subject in, they should not be in that position for more than one hour. If youre trying out a new position, 30 minutes is the maximum time. C. SAFE WORD A "safe word" is an action, sound or word to alert you that play must stop and that the subject requires immediate attention. This action, sound or word must be one that would not normally be used in bondage play. Words like "No" and "Stop" are poor choices, because pretend resistance is often a part of the bondage scene. If a subject is gagged, you may use a safe word

such as raising a finger or a foot, or even humming. Consider the safe word an "emergency brake". Immediately stop, determine the needs of your subject, and perform them quickly. D. SCISSORS Always have a pair of medical, or safety scissors handy. Safety scissors are sharp on the edge, but have flattened sides and blunt points so that they only cut the rope and not your partner. These are the same scissors that are used to cut off bandages, and are available at most drugstores and pharmacies. Having these on hand will ensure quick removal of ropes, should it be necessary.

CONCLUSION
Japanese Rope Bondage is a fun, sensual experience. If you approach it in an informed way, choose the right materials, and take the proper safety measures, you will open up a whole new world of creative erotic expression. Enjoy!